Spray device for moistening coated paper



Patented Feb. 22, 1944 Chester A. Garrison, Comstock, Mich. Application December 26, 1941, Serial N0. 424,462

aeiaima. This invention relates to improvements in spray device for moistening coated paper.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a spray device for moisten I ing the edges of a coated paper web as the same leaves a coating machine to thereby prevent curling and wrinkling of the edges While it is subsequently suspended or festooned in drylng loopirw n ew-inkling without producing water spots.

without producing water spots.

Second, to provide a papermoistening device of the type described, which is extremely simple in its parts and very effective in its operation, in combination with a paper coating and feeding machine, whereby the foregoing objectionable curling or wrinkling of the edges of the coated web is avoided. a

Third, to provide an atomizer type spraying device or apparatus associated with a paper web feeding machine to apply moistureto the edges of a web handled by said machine, in whicha single source of pneumatic pressure is employed to d scharge liquid and air producing the spray in the desired state of atomization.

Further objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the de- 28 scription to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying draw ing, wherein: 30

Fig. 1 is a, fragmentary diagrammatic view in side elevation illustrating part of a paper coating machine and'a paper web feeding or handling apparatus employed in the advancing of a coated lationship thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating a portion of the device in operative rela-'- tion to a paper web traveling thereacross. 40

trating the construction of one of the atomizing nozzles oi the spraying unit. v

The present invention relates to a simple inexpensive spray device associated with a paper coating machine for correcting a. condition which universally exists or arises in a paper web coated 59 on one side thereof, namely. a tendency for the web to curl and wrinkle at the edges when it is coated on only one side, and to curl and wrinkle while it is suspended in drying festoons or loops.

The present device includes a novel atomizing web as it leaves the coating machine, the device 35 .01 my inventionbeing illustrated in op rative re- Gl. 915-12) 7 I and spraying instrumentality' positioned in a manner to apply a plurality of sprays or atomized jets of water to each edge of the web as it leaves the coating machine, the spraying operatlon being performed in a novel manner by a simple atomization unit and spray which results in securing the desired result of preventing curl- Referring to the drawing,. the reference numeral I designates the discharge end of a paper coatingmachine in which the web 2 is coated on the upper side thereof.

and drying machine to which the web 2 is fed from the coating machine and in which it is suspendedin loops. An upstanding bracket 4 is attached to the coating machine and between this bracket and the upright 3 there is provided and by which it is suspended over the spraying unit 8'.

This unit is illustrated in detail in Fig: 3 and comprises awate'r tank or reservoir 9, the water being indicated at Ill. This tank is provided with an inlet fitting H through which water is supplied. to maintain the desired level. This is controlled by a ball float l2 (shown in dotted.

lines) the operating arm I3 01 which is pivoted at I 4 ona fixed-pivot internally of the tank. Arm i3 is oifset at It: and pivotally'connected at its extremity to a flow control valve l6- which controls the supply of water through water inlet fitting The parts are set so that the float will drop sufliciently to open valve l6 and admit more water tothe tank prior to the time that the level of the ivater drops below theinner discharge end of fitting ii In other words, the latter is always immersed in the water.- The sup ply fitting ll issupplied through a rubber tube I] (see Fig. 1) connected to a suitable source of watersupply l8 through a master valve l9.

Tank H has an open air supply fitting 20 connected thereto adjacent the top thereof,

through which air i continually supplied under pressure from a suitable compressor 2! driven from the coating machine. Air supply fitting.

is connected to the compressor through a rubber air tube 22 and in operation the water in the tank is always under a predetermined pneumatic pressure, inasmuch asthe air line is con- The reference numeral 3 designates an upright of a festooning tinually open. while coating machine drive to compressor is in operation.

The top plate 23 of the tank has an airtight charge end of said machine on the uncoated 1 side of the web at either edge thereof, said de- -vices each comprising a'liquid containing tank provided with a plurality of atomizing spray nozseal thereto and is provided with' a plurality of openings at one side thereof arranged in a group, in which the atomizing spray nozzles 24 are disposed. In the illustrated embodiment each tank has three nozzles, there being a tank or unit ad-- iaoent each side of web 2. These'nozzles are cylindrical throughout a substantial portion of their length, being open at the lower end and tapering at the upper to a conical nozzle tip above the plate23. Said tip is provided. with a small orifice 25 through which air and water in an atomized jet or spray issue and impinge the edges of the paper web 2, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

-'For supplying the water constituting the aforesaid spray I employ the eduction tubes or liquid jets 26 which extend from top to bottom of the tank and which have body portions 21 at the lower end thereof.- These body portions are adjustably threaded in the bottom wall 23 of the tank. A look nut 29 and washer or packing 313 secure these tubes in place and effect a. watertight seal therearound.

The eduction tubes 26 are provided with adjustable needle valves 3! for adjusting the amount of water discharged to the nozzle, this water entering the tubes throu'ghradial passages 32. A packing nut 33 surrounds the 'sameand is threaded on the extremity of the jet.

At its upper end the tube 26 is positioned closely in (see Fig. 4) to enable air under pressure in the tank interior, with which the open end of the nozzle communicates, to enter andimpinge and atomize the water, which is forced upwardly through the eduction tube by the pneumatic and hydrostatic head thereon internally of the tank .9. A spray of any desired fineness is produced by simply manipulating the needle valve 3| to regulate the amount of water supplied.

The foregoing constitutes a simple and at the same time effective moistening device which over- .pomes the objection of curling and wrinkling of the edgesof'theweb without injuring or spotting the web. I am aware that it has been proposed to moisten webs in one manner or another, as by steam or by jets of waterfhowever, I believe that I am the first to evolve a device for discharging an atomized spray to the edges of a coated web having the simplicity and effectiveness of operation oithe above described apparatus. The same maybe readily and quickly installed on any conventional type of paper coating machine.

An embodiment of the invention which incorporates the principles of the invention in a'highly desirable manner .has been illustrated and described, though I am awarethat other embodimerits within the intent of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It

' adjacent orifice 25 and has a V notch 34 out therei associated therewith which are in communica zles arranged in a group to direct a spray against the adjacent edge of the web, the inner end of said nozzles opening to the interior of the tank, float valve controlled means for supplying liquid to said tank, means for supplying air under pressure to said tank to build upapredetermined pneumatic pressure on theliquid therein, said nozzies being internally exposed to said -pneumatic tank pressure whereby air issues therefrom and having eduction tubes associated therewith which are in communication with the liquid beneath the surface thereof whereby liquid is forced under pneumatic and hydrostatic head through the tubes and nozzles and is atomized by the air issuing therefrom.

2. The combination with a machine for applying coating to a paper web on one, side thereof and for advancing and discharging the web, a pair of spraying devices supported on the uncoated side of the web, and adjustable transversely of the path of travel of the web, said devices each comprising ahquid containing tank provided with "aplurality of smzzles arrangedin a group,

the nozzles ofthe group being spaced relative to each other transversely ofthe web, to'direct a spray against the adjacent edge of the web, the inner ends of said nozzles opening to the interior of the tank, means for supplyingdiquid tothe tank, means for supplying air under pressure to said tank to build up pneumatic pressure on the liquid therein, saidnozzles being internally ex- ;posedto the pneumatic tank pressure whereby air issues therefrom, and having eduction tubes tion with the liquid beneath the surface thereof whereby liquid is forced under pneumatic and hydrostatic head through the tubes and nozzles and is atomized by the air issuing therefrom, each of said eduction tubes being provided with a regulating valve whereby the amount of liquid and character of the. spray discharged from each nozzle may be controlled independently of the other nozzles.

3. In combination with a machine for applying coating. to a paper web on one side thereof and for advancing and discharging the web, a spray device supported on the uncoated side of the web 4 and adjacent an edge thereof, said device,com-

prising a liquid containing tank provided with a plurality of atomizing spray nozzles arranged in agroup, the nozzles of the group being spaced transversely of the path of travel of the web,

' the inner ends of the nozzles opening to'the inshould be understood that the foregoing termiterior of the tank, means for supplying liquid to said tank, means for supplying air-under pressure tosaid tank to build up pneumatic pressure on the liquid therein, said-nozzles being in- 4 ternally exposed to the pneumatic tank pressure whereby air issues therefrom, and having educ-.

.tion tubes associated therewith which are in communication with the liquid beneath the surface thereof, whereby liquid is forced under pneu matic and hydrostatic'head throughthe tubes andnozzles andis atomized by the air issuing therefrom, and means for independently varying the spray discharged by each nozzle to p ovide a decreasingly varying amount of moisture from the edge of the web inwardly.-

cnas'rsa A. GARRIS'ON. 

